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Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Evaluation Of The Thorax Of Manduca Sexta For Flapping-Wing Micro Air Vehicle Applications, Alex C. Hollenbeck
Evaluation Of The Thorax Of Manduca Sexta For Flapping-Wing Micro Air Vehicle Applications, Alex C. Hollenbeck
Theses and Dissertations
The tobacco hornworm hawkmoth (Manduca sexta) provides an excellent model from which to garner knowledge pertaining to the development of a Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicle (FWMAV). Insect-sized FWMAVs will be used by the future warfighter for reconnaissance, nuclear/chemical/biological hazard sensing, and targeting. One of the major challenges facing FWMAV developers is the energetically demanding nature of low Reynolds flapping flight. Investigating the Manduca sexta thorax/wing flapping mechanism as a mechanical system will provide insight into its inherent efficiency. This thesis examined the energetics of the thorax under static loading and dynamic loading using an innovative load-application technique. It was …
A Finite Element Analysis Of A Carbon Fiber Composite Micro Air Vehicle Wing, Theodore A. Szelag
A Finite Element Analysis Of A Carbon Fiber Composite Micro Air Vehicle Wing, Theodore A. Szelag
Theses and Dissertations
Micro-air vehicles (MAV)s provide a valuable and low observable way to do the jobs that the Air Force deems to be dull, dirty and dangerous. Basing the design of an MAV wing on that of a biological counterpart will provide a proven design that is capable of achieving the mission requirements. This research is designed to analyze the design and manufacturing of a wing based off the Manduca Sexta.
Inaccuracies in the fiber orientation can result in substantial changes in the material properties. Experimental vibration data of composite material samples manufactured using a three-ply [0/90/0] small non-homogenous fiber composite provided …
Reynolds Number Effects On Thrust Coefficients And Piv For Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles, John P. Tekell
Reynolds Number Effects On Thrust Coefficients And Piv For Flapping Wing Micro Air Vehicles, John P. Tekell
Theses and Dissertations
For the last several years the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT) has conducted research in aerodynamics for flapping wing micro air vehicles (MAVs). The focus of this research was to augment this effort by measuring thrust, velocity, and torque in tanks of water and glycerin using a scale and a reaction torque cell. The results for different flapping mechanisms are compared to a rotating propeller with the goal of elucidating the design trade space between rotorcraft and flapping wings at Reynolds numbers less than 100,000. In addition, flow visualization and quantitative velocity data were captured in the wake of …